Gendered Impact of COVID-19 on Livelihoods in Africa

Oxfam in collaboration with African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) emplemented an International Development Research Centre (IDRC) funded collaborative research and policy outreach Project on the Gendered Impact of COVID 19 on Livelihoods in Africa. This Project aimed to conduct high quality policy research by African academics, and thought leaders while using gender transformative approaches, that can shed light on the gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods in selected African countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia, and Nigeria. The research takes special emphasis on vulnerable groups who bear the brunt disproportionately, economically, physiologically, and emotionally.

A total of six (6) research case studies were conducted in five countries within a period of seven months focusing on:

• Who bears most the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• How are communities coping financially and socially?
• What has been the impact of the pandemic on women in informal jobs especially domestic workers?
• Have pandemic and policy responses aggravated domestic violence against women, girls, and other disadvantaged groups?
• And finally, has there been social norm change because of the increased care burden and realities, and how have women and carers been coping?

We have published here the six country briefs. The full papers are available on the website of AERC using the links below:

Gendered Impacts of COVID-19 on Income

COVID-19, Livelihoods, and Inequality: Poor Female Headed Families Fare Worse in Kenya and Ethiopia

Gendered Socio-economic and Health Effects of COVID-19 in Informal Settlements in Kenya

COVID-19 and Gendered Access to Medical Services in Nigeria

Labour Market and Unpaid Childcare Trajectories by Gender During the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Africa: Lessons for Policy

Mainstreaming Gender for Enhanced COVID-19 Rural Livelihood Recovery in Zambia